Countdown begins for Deaflympics 2025 in Tokyo - Germany's deaf squad eagerly anticipates the games
Countdown Begins for the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
In just 100 days, the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will kick off, marking a significant milestone for the deaf sports world. The event, scheduled from November 15 to November 26, 2025, will celebrate its centennial anniversary and showcase athleticism and inclusivity for the Deaf community on a global stage.
The Deaflympics will take place across three cities: Tokyo, Fukushima, and Shizuoka. The Opening Ceremony will take place on November 15, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. JST, followed by the Closing Ceremony on November 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. JST at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The games will feature 21 sports, including traditional disciplines such as athletics, swimming, judo, basketball, football, handball, and volleyball. The games are uniquely adapted for Deaf athletes, with no hearing aids allowed during competition and visual cues replacing auditory signals.
Key team sports, such as basketball, have already conducted an official draw ceremony to determine groupings. For Tokyo 2025, this draw was held online on July 29, 2025.
Team Germany is currently in the final stages of preparation for the Deaflympics. The German Deaf Sports Association's President, Katharina Pape, emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistency in preparation to avoid increased pressure and stress before the games.
Pape describes the Deaflympics 2025 as the event with the highest sporting quality that occurs every four years. Team Germany will compete in a total of twelve sports: athletics, handball, shooting sports, golf, swimming, bowling, orienteering, cycling, judo, beach volleyball, tennis, and table tennis.
In handball, Germany is in Group A with host Japan, Turkey, and Brazil. The handball team is looking forward to starting the Deaflympics 2025 with full motivation and commitment.
Urs Breitenberger, Tennis National Player and Athlete Spokesperson, notes that the Deaflympics provide a platform for top athletes from around the world who are connected by their hearing impairment. Breitenberger underscores that the Deaflympics promote not only sporting excellence but also cultural exchange, inclusion, and lived equality.
Breitenberger explains that the Deaflympics have taken place every four years since their inception in 1924. He also highlights that participation in the Deaflympics requires a significant restriction of hearing ability. Communication during the Deaflympics is mainly through sign language and visual signals.
After the conclusion of the qualification phase, the athletes are intensively preparing for their competitions in Tokyo. The final training camps for Team Germany are currently underway.
The Deaflympics 2025 will be a remarkable event for the deaf sports world, promoting inclusivity and showcasing the talent and determination of Deaf athletes. Stay tuned for more updates as we countdown to the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics!
The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics, happening in just 100 days, will feature various sports, including football, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and showcasing the talent of Deaf athletes. Team Germany is preparing intensely for several sports, especially football, as they aim to perform at their best during the Deaflympics.
